A 30-year-old man charged with the rape of two young girls who were attending a children’s birthday party in Athlone at the weekend was remanded in custody when he appeared before Longford District Court yesterday.

The accused, who was wearing a black jacket, faded blue jeans and white runners when he appeared in court also had a wound to the left side of his face.

Judge Seamus Hughes remanded the man in custody until Friday. He said he had noticed some marks on the man’s face and ordered that he be put on suicide watch and “afforded all possible protection”.